Tripod torch handle

ABSTRACT

A vane contrivance, more particularly, a self-standing tripodal base is provided at the upper end with a dual purpose gas burner assembly wherein addition, inner air and gas mixing tube is confined within an outer air and gas mixing tube. When the combustible mixture is burned at low pressure at the smaller and shorter inner tube a Bunsen burner flame is attainable. When the mixture is burned atop the larger and longer outer tube at requisite high exhausting a blowtorch flame is provided. When the pivotally mounted legs of the tripod are folded together, a practical and convenient blowtorch handle is provided.

United States Patent lnventor Joseph N. Johnson 2795 N. Ludlow Road, Urbana, Ohio 43078 Appl. No. 864,698 Filed Oct. 8, 1969 Patented Aug. 10, 1971 TRIPOD TORCH HANDLE 6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 431/343, 126/271.2 R Int. CL ..F23d 13/24, F23c 5/06 Field of Search 431/343, 345: 126/229. 237. 403. 406, 271.2

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 313 6/1901 Kitson 431/343 1,214,880 2/1917 Becher 431/345 1,295,349 2/1919 Monroe.. 431/343 1,581,078 4/1926 Mulroy... 431/343 1,963,420 6/1934 Ring 431/343 Primary ExaminerCharles J. Myhre Attorneys-Clarence A. O'Brien and Harvey B. Jacobson ABSTRACT: A vane contrivance, more particularly, a selfstanding tripodal base is provided at the upper end with a dual purpose gas burner assembly wherein addition, inner air and gas mixing tube is confined within an outer air and gas mixing tube. when the combustible mixture is burned at low pressure at the smaller and shorter inner tube a Bunsen burner flame is attainable. When the mixture is burned atop the larger and longer outer tube at requisite high exhausting a blowtorch flame is provided. When the pivotally mounted legs of the tripod are folded together, a practical and convenient blowtorch handle is provided.

TRIPOD TORCH HANDLE The present invention relates to a self-contained multipurpose contrivance or implement which is characterized, broadly stated, by flame generated burner means which is operatively mounted atop and is supportable by the base when the base is seated atop a support surface and wherein said means embodies selectively operable and usable gas burners and, more specifically, wherein the base is such in construction that the component parts thereof can be caught hold of and safely and comfortably used as a handle.

An object of the herein disclosed invention is to provide a tripodal base wherein the several circumferentially spaced legs are adjustable in length and which are such in cross-sectional dimension that when the legs are contracted they provide satisfactory burner maneuvering and using handle and when spread apart and seated on a stationary support surface provide a desirable manner of stationary use.

In carrying out the principles of the invention the vertically adjustable and foldable and collapsible tripodal stand is significant due to the fact that it renders the overall structure portable and when the legs are collapsed and folded they provide a burner maneuvering and aiming handle. It follows that the invention is a versatile adaptation which can be converted from a portable Bunsen burner stove to a high capacity blowtorch or space heater as desired.

The invention also insures the provision of the aforementioned handle and, in addition, permits placement of the control valve near the dual burner means whereby to make the hose management simple and convenient. Then too, the fact that the tripodal stand or base is adjustable in height adds to the efficient usability of the invention.

Briefly the invention has to do with a sectional gas conducting and delivering conduit having an upper sectional end which terminates in a nipple which is preferably screwthreaded and is equipped with a gas-tip nozzle. The lower end or section is equipped with a communicating gaseous fuel supply or delivering hose. The intermediate coupling or section is provided with a hand regulatable valve. A first air and gas mixing tube is aligned with and communicatively and operatively joined with the aforementioned nipple and nozzle and has an air intake orifice or port at the bottom on one side. A portable self-standing tripodal base is utilized as an appropriate stand. This base embodies several circumferentially spaced legs which have upper ends pivotally joined to the lower end portion of the air and gas mixing tube. The tube, more explicitly, is an inner tube and is shorter than and is stationed within the confines of a larger longer outer tube. The outer tube is open at its ends and its outer end projects beyond the corresponding outer end of the inner tube in a manner to provide the aforementioned high capacity blowtorch.

These together with other objects and advantages construction will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof,. wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of the tripod torch handle set up for use.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing the handle means collapsed and readied for use.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view with parts in section and elevation.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on the Referring first to the conduit it will'be noted that the upper section or end comprises an externally screw-threaded nipple of requisite length and cross section which is denoted by the numeral 12 and is provided on its upper end with an appropriate gas emitting nozzle 14 (FIGS. 3 and 4). The lower section or component part of the conduit is in the form of a suitable screw-threaded fitting 16. The upper end of this fitting is joined to the lower end of the nipple 12 by way of an appropriate union or coupling 18 having a tool gripping nut 20 thereon. The built-in control valve which may be of any appropriate construction (not detailed) is denoted by the numeral 22 and is cooperable with the conduit and also with the gas delivery or supply hose 24 which is connected as shown to the lower end of the conduit.

Before describing the tripodal base or stand 8 attention is invited to FIGS. 3 and 4 where it will be seen that one of the components of the dual purpose burner head or means comprises a first air and gas mixing tube 26, the lower end of which is cooperatively joined with the nipple and nozzle 12 and 14 in the manner shown. This tube is open at the upper end and is of requisite length and cross section and is provided above the nozzle 14 with circumferentially spaced air inlet orifices or ports 28 (not detailed). The external or peripheral surface of this tube is provided with circumferentially spaced longitudinally integrally mounted flanges which constitute suitable air channeling fins or ribs 32. The lower end portions of these fins facilitate mounting the legs of the aforementioned tripodal base 8 thereon.

Continuing with the description of the dual purpose burner head means it will be noted that the outer air and gas mixing tube or sleeve is designated at 36 and the major body portion thereof is fitted retentively and frictionally over the fins and is thus held in place in the manner shown. This tube 36 is open at the lower end 38 and also open at the upper end as at 40. It is of a length and diameter that it provides the proportional relationship between two tubes 26 and 36 in order to provide the Bunsen burner flame on the one hand and the blowtorch flame on the other hand.

The several legs of the tripodal base are identical in construction and each leg is of telescoping construction. The upper leg component 42 is telescopically fitted into the lower tubular leg component 44. The extreme lower end is provided with an appropriate foot or tip 46. Collar means 48 is provided and is equipped with a setscrew 50 for adjusting and maintaining the adjustment of the component parts of the respective legs. The extreme upper end of each leg component 42 is suitably enlarged and headed as at 52 (FIG. 3) and is provided with a U-shaped adapter clip 54. To the ends'desired, the clip is clamped around the head and the end portions of the clip provide paired parallel ears 56. These ears straddle the lower luglike end portions of the aforementioned fins 32 whereby to pivotally mount the several legs and to allow the same to be spread apart to provide the stand as shown in FIG. 1 or to be folded together to serve as a blowtorch handle as shown in phantom lines and full lines in FIG. 2.

As is evident from FIG. 3 the adapter clips 54 are so mounted on the legs and so pivoted and connected with the aforementioned fins or flanges that they provide the desired pivotal and spreading movement for the legs also serve to perform as limit stops in maintaining the legs in the spread burner supporting position shown in FIG. 3. At the same time the connections are such that the legs can be contracted, that is shortened lengthwise and then collapsed and folded together to serve as a handle as already described and shown with particularlity in FIG. 2.

The convertible aspect of the concept is evident by evaluating the illustration in FIG. 1 on the one hand and the handle aspect in FIG. 2 on the other hand.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described,-and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What I claim a new is as follows:

1. A multipurpose contrivance comprising, in combination, a gas conducting and delivering conduit having an upper end terminating in a nipple equipped with a gas-tip nozzle, having a lower end equipped with a communicating gaseous fuel supply hose, and provided with a hand-regulable valve, an air and gas mixing tube aligned with and communicatively operatively joined with said nipple and nozzle and having at least one air intake port, a portable self-standing tripod base, said base embodying several circumferentially spaced legs having upper ends, said legs being of a length and cross-sectional dimension that they can be closely folded together into a compact and convenient position and relationship whereby to provide a handle, said tube constituting an inner tube and being provided on and along its outer peripheral surface with circumferentially spaced longitudinally disposed radially projecting flanges, said flanges providing clip mounting and air-channeling fins, the adapter clips, said clips having paired spaced ears straddling and pivotally and retentively mounted on coacting lower ends of the respectively cooperable flanges.

2. The contrivance defined in and according to claim 1, and wherein said inner tube is closed at the lower end by said nipple and is wholly open at the upper flame burning end, and, in combination, a second open-ended air and gas mixing tube providing an outer tube and encompassing said inner tube and flanges and being retained in a given usable position on said flanges, said outer tube being of a length greater than the length of said inner tube, said inner tube functioning to provide a low pressure Bunsen burner, said outer tube functioning to provide a high pressure intensive flame blowtorch, said handle being primarily used when said blowtorch is being aimed, handled and otherwise maneuvered and used.

3. The contrivance defined in and according to claim 2, and wherein the overall length of said conduit is proportional to the size of said inner and outer tubes and the shortest height adjustment of said tripodal base whereby said hose is thus close-coupled to said tubes and so that the attached hose can be handled and managed with ease and expediency.

4. A self-contained multipurpose contrivance comprising, in

combination, a rigid gas conducting and delivering conduit embodying a nipple terminating at an upper end in a reduced nozzle, a valved fitting with a lower end to which an end of a fuel supply hose is adapted to be communicatively connected, and a coupling aligned with and communicatively uniting adjacent ends of said nipple and fitting, an upstanding inner air and gas mixing tube having a lower end aligned with and communicatively and cooperatively joined with said nipple and enclosing said nozzle and provided with at least one air intake port above the level of said nozzle, said inner tube being provided along its outer peripheral surface with radial outstanding circumferentially spaced lengthwise flanges providing air channeling fins, an outer tube concentrically and cooperatively encompassing said inner tube and flanges and having an upper open end projecting above the upper end of the inner tube and providing a blowtorch and an open lower end terminating on a level just above the lower ends of said flanges, three equidistant circumferentially spaced legs of equal length, said legs having upper ends pivotally connected to respectively cooperating lower end portions of said flanges, said legs being compactly and conveniently folded together, closely encompassing said conduit, and providing an easy-tograsp blowtorch handle, and said legs being free of mechanical connection with said conduit and being adapted to be spread apart in a manner to provide a self-standing tripodal base for said contrivance when it is set up for use as a Bunsen burner.

5. The contrivance defined in and according to claim 4, and wherein the upper end of each leg is provided with a U-shaped adapter clip, said clip having a pair of spaced parallel ears and said ears straddling and being pivotally joined to a cooperating lower end portion of the coacting flange.

6. The contrivance defined m and according to claim 4, and 

1. A multipurpose contrivance comprising, in combination, a gas conducting and delivering conduit having an upper end terminating in a nipple equipped with a gas-tip nozzle, having a lower end equipped with a communicating gaseous fuel supply hose, and provided with a hand-regulable valve, an air and gas mixing tube aligned with and communicatively operatively joined with said nipple and nozzle and having at least one air intake port, a portable self-standing tripod base, said base embodying several circumferentially spaced legs having upper ends, said legs being of a length and cross-sectional dimension that they can be closely folded together into a compact and convenient position and relationship whereby to provide a handle, said tube constituting an inner tube and being provided on and along its outer peripheral surface with circumferentially spaced longitudinally disposed radially projecting flanges, said flanges providing clip mounting and air-channeling fins, the adapter clips, said clips having paired spaced ears straddling and pivotally and retentively mounted on coacting lower ends of the respectively cooperable flanges.
 2. The contrivance defined in and according to claim 1, and wherein said inner tube is closed at the lower end by said nipple and is wholly open at the upper flame burning end, and, in combination, a second open-ended air and gas mixing tube providing an outer tube and encompassing said inner tube and flanges and being retained in a given usable position on said flanges, said outer tube being of a length greater than the length of said inner tube, said inner tube functioning to provide a low pressure Bunsen burner, said outer tube functioning to provide a high pressure intensive flame blowtorch, said handle being primarily used when said blowtorch is being aimed, handled and otherwise maneuvered and used.
 3. The contrivance defined in and according to claim 2, and wherein the overall length of said conduit is proportional to the size of said inner and outer tubes and the shortest height adjustment of said tripodal base whereby said hose is thus close-coupled to said tubes and so that the attached hose can be handled and managed with ease and expediency.
 4. A self-contained multipurpose contrivance comprising, in combination, a rigid gas conducting and delivering conduit embodying a nipple terminating at an upper end in a reduced nozzle, a valved fitting with a lower end to which an end of a fuel supply hose is Adapted to be communicatively connected, and a coupling aligned with and communicatively uniting adjacent ends of said nipple and fitting, an upstanding inner air and gas mixing tube having a lower end aligned with and communicatively and cooperatively joined with said nipple and enclosing said nozzle and provided with at least one air intake port above the level of said nozzle, said inner tube being provided along its outer peripheral surface with radial outstanding circumferentially spaced lengthwise flanges providing air channeling fins, an outer tube concentrically and cooperatively encompassing said inner tube and flanges and having an upper open end projecting above the upper end of the inner tube and providing a blowtorch and an open lower end terminating on a level just above the lower ends of said flanges, three equidistant circumferentially spaced legs of equal length, said legs having upper ends pivotally connected to respectively cooperating lower end portions of said flanges, said legs being compactly and conveniently folded together, closely encompassing said conduit, and providing an easy-to-grasp blowtorch handle, and said legs being free of mechanical connection with said conduit and being adapted to be spread apart in a manner to provide a self-standing tripodal base for said contrivance when it is set up for use as a Bunsen burner.
 5. The contrivance defined in and according to claim 4, and wherein the upper end of each leg is provided with a U-shaped adapter clip, said clip having a pair of spaced parallel ears and said ears straddling and being pivotally joined to a cooperating lower end portion of the coacting flange.
 6. The contrivance defined in and according to claim 4, and wherein the upper end of each leg is provided with a U-shaped adapter clip, said clip having a pair of spaced parallel ears and said ears straddling and being pivotally joined to a cooperating lower end portion of the coacting flange, the upper ends of the bight portions of said U-shaped clips being aligned with and adapted to incline against and abut coacting edge portions of said flanges in a manner to provide limit stops, that is, when the legs are pivoted and spread apart to function as a tripodal stand. 